Playing card holder for the blind



Dec. 1, 1964 K. E. MIDGLEY ETAL 3,159,404

PLAYING CARD HOLDER FOR THE BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1962 MHIHH ale Dec. 1, 1964 K. E. MIDGLEY ETAL PLAYING CARD HOLDER FOR THE BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1962 8 a; H m5 N 3 Wm n MFQVA W; ww

United States Patent 6 3,159,4il4 PLAYING QARD HOLDER FOR THE EUND Kenneth E. R iidgley, Kansas City, M0. (802% Manor Road, Shawnee Mission, Kane), and Wallace F. Magers, Leawood, Kane; said Magers assignor to said Midgley Filed fan. 8, lQZ, Ser. No. 164,693 '7 Claims. (Cl. 273-450) This invention relates to game apparatus in the nature of a holder for playing cards and the like, and more particularly to such apparatus adapted to retain the cards in an arrangement and with indicia which will enable those without sight to play their cards by sense of touch alone.

Blind persons who in the past have enjoyed playing cards, such as bridge, desire to continue playing the game with others who have sight and, while assistance may be given by an onlooker in the sorting of cards, any reliance on others in the bidding or playing of the cards is undesirable and has a tendency to give the blind person an inferiority complex. It has been found that if the blind person is given assistance in the sorting of ordinary cards whereby they may be placed in groups with indicia for ready identification, the blind person may play his cards with the only other requirement being that the other players each announce orally the value of the cards as they play them from their hands.

The principal objects of the present invetnion are to provide a game apparatus in the nature of a holder for ordinary playing cards adapted to receive and support the cards in spaced relation in a selected order and adjacent to respective indicia whereby a person without sight can identify the cards and play same by sense of touch alone; to provide such a holder with a container which when arranged :in playing position forms a shield for preventing an opposing player from observing the cards in the holder; to provide such a structure for holding the cards thus freeing the hands of the player for use in identifying and playing of the cards; to provide such a holder particularly adapted for playing of the game of bridge wherein separated areas or sections are provided, one for the players hand and the other for containing blank or extra cards representing to the blind person by feel the cards in the dummys hand which cards can be removed as the dummys cards are played to enable the blind person to know at all times by feel 'only the identification of the cards in the dummy; to

provide such a holder adapted to retain cards separated by suits wherein the cards of one suit are in a row alongside of cards of another suit with the individual cards of the respective suits spaced apart; to provide such an apparatus wherein the spaced cards of a suit are arranged in spaced groups according to value with suitable indicia alongside of each card for identifying same by its arrangement in the respective groups; to provide such a structure wherein the holder or container has a plurality of partitions and dividers forming separators for the cards and suits and the players hand from the dummy; and to provide a game apparatus in the form of a playing card holder particularly adapted for the playing of card games by persons without sight and that is economical to manufacture, compact, yet easily used for suitable identification in the playing of cards.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card holder and container with portions broken away to illustrate the card separating and identifying members.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the card holder and container taken on the lines 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the card holder and container with the container arranged on the holder to form a shield for cards in the container.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the holder with the container shield positioned thereon in tilted relation to provide access to the cards in the holder with the container shield broken away to ilustrate the structure thereof, the playing position of the container shield being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a card separator.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder and container in a carrying case.

Referring more in detail to the drawingsi The reference numeral 1 generally designates a card game apparatus which includes a holder 2 and a container shield 3 constructed whereby the container shield is adapted to receive the holder therein for storage or carrying and when the holder is removed and in playing position the container shield 3 protects the contents of the holder from the view of opposing players.

In the structure illustrated, the holder 2 has a bottom 4 with upstanding front and rear walls 5 and 6 respectively and opposite side Walls 7 and 8 respectively secured together to form an open top box-like structure 9. The bottom 4 preferably has its outer surface covered with a suitable cushioning material such as felt 10 to aid in preventing sliding of the holder on a smooth surface and also prevent scratching of surfaces on which the holder may be positioned.

The interior of the box-like portion 9 of the holder is preferably provided with suitable partitions and/or spacers arranged to define upwardly opening slots 11 of suitable size and shape whereby each is adapted to receive a playing card 12 and have an end portion 12' of the respective card projecting thereabove. The slots 11 are arranged in separated rows 13, 14, 15 and 16 with the slots extending transversely of the rows whereby each row is adapted to represent a suit with suitable indicia 17 arranged along a side of each card-receiving slot. Also, it is preferred that the card-receiving slots of each row be arranged in spaced groups for facilitating identification as, for example, four slots in one group 18 adjacent the front wall 5 adapted to receive the cards of the values 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively of a suit, with the higher value cards being in the slots progressively away from the front wall; another group 19 of slots for the respective suits preferably being four in number to receive the cards of the values 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively in accordance with their spacing from the front wall; and a third group 259 of the respective suit having five slots for receiving the honor cards, as for example, the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace respectively with the higher value cards having the greater spacing from the front Wall 5.

Fpr the playing of some games, the holder may be arranged to have slots for receiving any card of the deck, as for example, 13 cards of each of four suits. However, in the structure illustrated, the holder is particularly adapted for use in the playing of bridge whereby the player may also have extra cards arranged in the holder for representing the hand of a dummy; therefore, the boxlike structure 9 is divided into two sections, a section 21 for the players hand and a section 22 for the placing of cards representing the dummys hand whereby the player will know at all times the cards in the dummys hand. In the structure illustrated, each section 21 and 22 has substantially corresponding arrangement and spacing of the slots, with the slots for the players hand being positioned in the forward portion of the holder and the slots for the extra cards representing those in the dummys hand in the rearward portion. The sections 21 and 22 are separated by a partition 23 extending transversely across the holder between the side walls 7 and 8 with an upstanding rib 24 above the upper edges 25 of said side walls to form a separator for the sections to facilitate location of cards in the respective players hand and dummys hand sections, said rib or upwardly extending portion extending above the upper edges 25 of the side walls 7 and 8 for a greater distance than the portion of the cards extending from the slots. 7

In the structure illustrated, the holder 2 has transverse partitions 26 and 2'7 between the groups 18 and 19 and 19 and 20 respectively in the section for the players hand and partitions 28 and 29 extending transversely of the box-likeportion and forming separators for the corresponding groups of cards in the dummy hand section 22, the partitions 23, 26, 27, 28 and 29 each being suitably fixed in the box-like structure 9 as by adhesive to the bottom 4 and side walls 7 and 8. The upper edges 36 of the partitions 26, 27, 28 and 29 preferably are flush with the upper edges 25 of the side walls. It is to be understood that a top Wall structure could be provided in the box-like member 9 and have the slots for the cards formed therein. However, in the structure illustrated, a plurality of dividers 31 are arranged in thev interior of the box-like member 9 between the front and rear walls and the partitions and between the adjacent partitions to pro- I vide card separators and form the slots 11 for the cards.

In the form illustrated, each of the dividers or separators 31 are arranged to provide for reception of two cards, and the length of the separator is such that two of same in end-to-end relationship will substantially correspond to the spacing between the inner surfaces of the side walls 7 and 8. Each divider has a top wall member 32 and end wall members 33 and 34- with spaced center wall members 35 and 36 arranged whereby the spacing between the inner surfaces of the walls 33. and 35 and 34 and 36 respectively substantially corresponds to the width of a' playing card. The top wall 32 is of lesser width than the end walls 33 and 34 to provide a recess portion width of the separator is such that, four of them are slidable into the space between the front wall and the partition 26 at oneside of the box-like structure 9 and be in engagement whereby the recessed portion 37 of one cooperates with the rear face 42 of the nextv adjacent forward divider to form the card-receiving slot. Four of the dividers are positioned in the group spacing between the partitions 26 and 27 and five in the spaces between the partitions27 and 23 with a corresponding arrangement of dividers in the dummy-receiving section 22, all of the dividers being positioned at one side of the box-like member, as for example, adjacent the side wall 7. A corresponding number of dividers are positioned on the other side adjacent the side Wall 3 in end-to-end abutting engagement with the first-mentioned dividers to form four rows of slots, one row for each suit. It is preferred that a strip 43 be positioned over the abutting ends of the endto-end dividers of each section and secured to the partition 23 and front wall 5 and rear wall 6 to form a holddown for the dividers.

It is preferred that suitable indicia be arranged on the partitions to form a visual indicator for the respective groups, it is preferred that the indicia for the cards of a group be the same and, in the structure illustrated, the upstanding indicia member 17 for the low value groups is in the form of a tab-like member with a V-cut or recess 44 in the upper edge'45 thereof with said upper edge 1 preferably being at a level whereby it would be slightly below the upper edge of a card positioned in an adjacent slot whereby a person feeling over the upper edge 46 of the card would feel the recess 44 in the indicia member 17 and know that it was one of the low value group, and then feeling the position in the group of four could tell the exact value of the card. The indicia for the intermediate value group of cards, in the illustrated structure, is preferably an upstanding tab-like member with an upper edge 47 that is preferably straight and substantially on a level with the upper edge 46 of a card positioned in a slot adjacent thereto. The indicia for the high value group of cards is also upstanding with the upper edge 48 rounded upwardly or otherwise projecting upwardly in a crowned effect with the upwardly rounded portion extending above the upper edge 46 of a card positioned in a slot adjacent thereto. The indicia for the cards in the various groups in the dummysection are preferably the same as illustrated and described relative to the players hand section.

The container shield '3 preferably is a box-like member having side walls 56 and 51, a rear wall 52, a top wall 53, with an open'front 54 and substantially open bottom 55. The interior dimensions of the member 3 are such that it can be arranged whereby the bottom portion will be sleeved over the holder 2 with the rear wall 52 enga ing the upper portion of the rear wall 6 and a transverse bar 56 engaging the front wall 5. Positioned above the bar 55 on the inner surfaces of the side walls 5% and 51 are rails '57 which in card-playing position would rest on the upper edges of the side walls 7 and 3 of the holder. With this arrangement, the top wall 53 is spaced from the upper portion of the holder whereby the players hands may be easily positioned inside of the container above the cards and be manipulated to identify said cards. It is preferred that the rear portion of the rails 57 be cut away on an angle as at 58 whereby the container shield may be raised to rest on the angular portion and the bottom edge of the rear wall to provide access for a person arranging cards in the holder.

When it is desired to store the holder in the container shield 3, it is moved into the open front of the container shield with the bottom resting on the upper edges of the rails 57 whereby the holder may be slidably moved into the container. It is preferred that top rails 59 be positioned on the side walls 5%) and 51 in upwardly spaced relation to the rails 57 whereby the rails 59 engage the upper edgesZ' of the side walls 7 and 8 of the holder when the holder is moved into the container. To facilitate storage and carrying, a fabric case 60 having a carrying handle 51 thereon is preferably arranged with a zipperclosed opening 62 whereby the bag can be opened and the container shield 3 with the holder 2 therein positioned in the bag and the zipper closed whereby the bag will enclose the container and holder. Said bag also preferably has a pocket 63 closed by a zipper 64 that is adapted to contain decks of cards 65, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In playing a game of bridge or the like, the holder 2 is removed from the container shield 3 and placed on a table, or the like, and the container shield is placed over the holder, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Then, in the regular order, a dealer will deal the cards to the player and an onlooker will place the blind players cards in their respective locations in the players hand section 21 of the holder '2. The container shield 3 may be raised, as in FIG. 4, to facilitate such placing, and said shield will still protect the cards from the view of the opposing players. The container shield is lowered to playing position and then the blind person can identify his cards and, knowing his hand, can bid in the usual manner. When the bidding is completed and the partner of the high bidder exposes his hand as the dummy, then extra cards are placed into the dummy section 22 of the holder 2 in the respective location whereby said extra cards correspond to those of the dummy, the actual cards of the dummys hand re maining on the table in view of the other players. Then, in playing, each player will orally announce the value of the card he plays and the blind person can then identify the cards in the dummys hand and, as the actual dummy hand is played, the blind person will remove the corresponding extra card from the dummy section 22 and place it on the table at the side of the holder. In playing his own hand, the blind person will remove the card desired from the holder and play it on to the trick on the table. It is preferred that in removing the extra cards representing the dummy hand, the blind person place said cards therefrom as played on one side if he takes the trick and on the other side if the opponents take the trick so that he may also have a means of checking to determine the number of tricks each side has taken. If the blind person takes the bid, the procedure is the same except that he will announce the card to be played from the actual dummys hand and some other player will take the card from the dummys hand on the table and play on the trick.

It is believed obvious that this is a simple, compact, economical apparatus wherein a person without sight can play cards entirely without aid except for the arranging of the cards in their respective locations in the holder, thereby giving the blind person a sense of accomplishment that is impossible of attainment where he has to have aid in the actual playing and bidding of the game.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described one form of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A holder for playing cards comprising,

(a) a box-like member having bottom, front, rear and side walls,

(b) a plurality of dividers extending between the side walls and having portions defining upwardly opening card-receiving slots,

(c) said slots being formed in a line of slots for cards of the same numerical value between the side walls with one slot for a card of said value for each suit of a deck of cards,

(0!) said slots being formed in spaced rows with one row for each suit and the slots for the cards of the respective suits extending away from the front wall whereby each suit and each card thereof have distinct locations,

(e) spaced separators extending between the side walls and separating the dividers in groups to group the card slots of each row, and

(f) indicia elements upstanding from the dividersat an end of each slot, said indicia elements for the slots having upper end portions of distinctive shape whereby a card positioned in a slot will be alongside of the respective indicia element and the distinctive shape of the indicia and location thereof in the row provides an identifying characteristic that permits identification by touch alone.

2. A holder as defined in claim 1 wherein the groups are such that slots of each suit row are arranged in spaced groups of low, intermediate and high values and the indicia elements alongside each of the slots of a group have the same shape to designate said group.

3. A holder as defined in claim 1 including a shield having a top wall and depending side and rear walls, said shield side walls having lower edges and a spacing permitting the holder to be positioned therebetween, a rail on each shield side wall spaced from said lower edges and removably engaged with the side walls of the holder [0 space the top wall above the holder whereby a player has access to cards in the holder for identifying and playing them while said cards in the holder are shielded from view of opposing players.

4. A holder for playing card comprising,

(a) a box-like member having bottom, front, rear and side walls defining an open top,

(b) spaced partitions extending between and fixed relative to the side walls to define a plurality of open top recesses between the front and rear walls,

(0) a plurality of dividers mounted in each of said recesses so that the dividers are in groups, said dividers each having portions defining card-receiving slots with the respective slots substantially parallel with the front wall, there being a row of slots extending away from the front wall for each suit of a deck of cards and a line of slots extending transversely for cards of the same numerical value for the respective suits whereby each suit and each card thereof have distinct locations,

(d) indicia elements upstanding from the dividers at an end of each slot, said indicia elements for the slots having upper end portions of distinctive shape whereby a card positioned in a slot will be alongside of a respective indicia element and the distinctive shape of the indicia element and location thereof in the row provides an identifying characteristic that permits identification by touch alone, and

(e) the dividers in the recesses being arranged where by the cards of each suit are in groups of l0w,,intermediate and high values.

5. A holder as defined in claim 4 wherein,

(a) a partition extends between the side walls and is fixed relative thereto substantially at equal distances from the front and rear wall to define open top sections,

(1)) said slot-defining dividers being in each of said sections with slots arranged in rows and groups for each card of a deck of cards in each section, and

(c) said indicia elements comprise corresponding indicia elements for the card slots of each group in each section.

6. A holder as defined in claim 4 wherein,

(a) the distinctive shape of the upper end portions of said card indicia elements for the groups of intermediate value cards is substantially level with respective card upper edges,

(b) upper end portions of the card indicia elements for the groups of low value cards having recessed portions below the level of the respective card upper edges, and

(c) the upper end portions of the card indicia elements for the groups of high value cards having raised por- 7 7 & tions above the level of the respective card upper 7 References Cited by the Examiner edges. T 7. Aholder as defined in claim 4 wherein, Uh ITED' SKATES PATENTS (a) each divider has spaced end and intermediate mem- 5481740 10/95 f et 273-151 bers connected by top and bottom members, 5 1,594,119 (b) said top member being of lesser Width than the 1,929,551 Hamllton 312 234 end and intermediate members, 8/49 w 129-43 X (c) the indicia elements being on said intermediate 216191350 11/52 3 273-448 member, 2,927,585 3/60 Rcsan 21I- 11 X (d) said dividers being arranged to cooperate with 10 FOREIGN PATENTS each other and the partitions so the lesser width of k t the top members forms a card-receiving slot between 3 g the intermediate member and each of the end ermdly members. DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER FOR PLAYING CARDS COMPRISING, (A) A BOX-LIKE MEMBER HAVING BOTTOM, FRONT, REAR AND SIDE WALLS, (B) A PLURALITY OF DIVIDERS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS AND HAVING PORTIONS DEFINING UPWARDLY OPENING CARD-RECEIVING SLOTS, (C) SAID SLOTS FORMED IN A LINE OF SLOTS FOR CARDS OF THE SAME NUMERICAL VALUE BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS WITH ONE SLOT FOR A CARD OF SAID VALUE FOR EACH SUIT OF A DECK OF CARDS, (D) SAID SLOTS BEING FORMED IN SPACED ROWS WITH ONE ROW FOR EACH SUIT AND THE SLOTS FOR THE CARDS OF THE RESPECTIVE SUITS EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE FRONT WALL WHEREBY EACH SUIT AND EACH CARD THEREOF HAVE DISTINCT LOCATIONS, 